, 1887-02-10
PARIS scHooLeoy PROFESSIONS.
An Attempt on the Part OF Parisisr
Boys to Intimidate the Government.

An Attempt on the Part OF Parisian
Boys to Intimidate the Government.
There is no English equivalent for mo
nome. This French word means an alge-
braical expression containing no sign plus
or minus. But it also means in school
boys and students slang n procession
through the streets in a single file, got up
in vindication OF their dignity and rights,
which have been ignored and trampled
upon by their masters during the term.
The cadets of the Ecole Polytechnique
have II monome at Christmas, when they
walk up and dow the principal thorough
fares TO let off the overlooking spirits Of
youth Mt being released from the stern
military discipline Of that establishment.
Their behavior Is always most orderly,
and their monome is now recognized as n
time honored tradition. Some OF the large
Paris schools have inflated the Ecolo
Polytechnique, but in II less becoming
spirit. In their case the manifestation Is
AS n rule organized by u few old boys upon
whom time hangs heavily, who have moth
ing to fear for themselves and who care
not II their juniors get into scrapes.
TIN day before the school breaks up 1t
Is usual for the master to send n notice
round the classes warning the boys
against taking part in any Christmas pro
cession unde heavy penalties. But his
words are lost on the mischievous char
nctcrs who arrange to meet their seniors,
the ~ringleaders, at some place of call di-
rectly the gates are thrown open. The
boys, yelling and whooping, form into In
dian file, and shape their course in zigzag
through the most crowded thoroughfares,
winding like n sea monster from pave
mcnt to pavement SO as to utterly oh
struct traffic. The file is sometimes broken
10y the police, but after an interval re.
sumcs the march. Meanwhile, ushers
hive been following them taking down the
MINES of the agitators. The punishment
nj French schools for lazlness or bad he
havior is II cruel one, and must be in
furious to the health. 1t is two To eight
hours detention on Sunday, TO be en-
ploycd In writing of so many hundreds of
lines by way of an imposition. This pun
ishment is also Incurred for not earning II
certain average of marks. 1t effectunlly
puts out any spark Of intelligence left in
n boy, or else makes II desperate Of him.
The other day II gang of such mndcaps,
about 200 strong, went IN Il monOme to
the ministry of public instruction, shout
ing. shame to Goblet Shame to Berthe
lotr' on the way. II appears that the new
minister had been expected to give them
n few extra days holiday on the occasion
of his coming into power, and the school
boys, disappointed, inasmuch as the New
Years holiday is of five days only, sought
to brighten NJ. Berthelot into granting u
longer one. As nobody, however, mp
pearcd ut the windows OF the government
Office the party went off TO n rather low
cafe at Montmartre. There they had II
merry drinking bout and spent their last
coppcrs. Several speakers hurled defiance
in impromptu speeches Mt NJ. Berthelot,
heud masters and ushers, but before long
the listeners, struck with qualms of con
science, or possibly afraid Of the conse-
qucnces Of their ~escapade, dispersed quietly
aud went to their homes.-Paris Cor.
London News.